Up to 16 jobs are at risk at regional publisher Johnston Press after it announced a reorganisation at one of its printing plants.
Staff at the company’s print site in Portsmouth have been told about plans to cut 16 positions owing to continuing reductions in work at the centre.
The company is planning to axe one process manager, nine pressroom staff, four mailroom staff, one engineer and one CTP role.
It comes after Rupert Murdoch’s News International paid £30m in July to get out of a long-term contract with JP under which some of its titles were printed at the Portsmouth plant.
At the time, the regional publisher said no jobs would be lost as a result of the termination of the deal and it would explore new contract opportunities at the two printing sites.
The latest proposed job losses were announced this week by regional managing director David Wells in an internal memo, seen by HoldtheFrontPage.
He said: “Following continuing reductions in volumes of Group and external work, together with further consolidation of schedules across JP print sites the company proposes a reorganisation of staffing arrangements at Portsmouth Web.
“Should this proposal proceed there would be a reduction of 16 roles comprising of 1 Process Manager, 9 Pressroom Staff, 4 Mailroom Staff, 1 Engineer, and 1 CTP role.
“Prior to any implementation, we will consult extensively on an individual and collective basis. During this consultation process we will explain the procedure, consider all alternatives, examine ways of mitigating the effects of this proposal, determine redundancy terms and address any other issues that may arise.
“We anticipate that this consultation process will be complete by the end of October 2012.
“In the event this proposal goes ahead, the company will endeavour to minimise the impact of the proposal through voluntary redundancy and re-deployment to alternative positions within the company and the Group.”
The termination of the print contract by News International in July was made after the closure of the News of the World last summer meant it was paying for print capacity at Portsmouth which it no longer needed.
The two companies said they would enter into a new agreement for The Sun to be printed at Dinnington.
Johnston Press has declined to comment further.
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Makes sense, consolidation is the only way forward for JP.
Before the angry birds arrive I would like to point out that I don’t like to hear of anyone losing their job but the company needs to consolidate and try to survive and this is the only way it can be done.
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…and how many ad reps are going?
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Consolidation? The way forward? Mmmm, someone’s been reading the management manual. Jobs lost in UK while JP outsources work to India. That’s the headline here.
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Ah, Johnston Press … the company that just keeps on giving
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What’s the news story here? JP announces another round of job cuts and refuses to comment further. Another day, another cull. NEXT!!
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Corporal Clegg,
why would they outsource the jobs lost in Portsmouth printing plant? what a silly thing to say. it’s impossible.
The contract with NI has been terminated and now there is no need for as many employees in the plant. it’s simple really, unless they can secure a major contract to replace NI it’s consolidation time.
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Little tip for Gottodowhatyougottodo: Sentences should start with a capital letter. How silly are you?
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Corporal Clegg,
Great retort!
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@Corporal Clegg, childish to say the least
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Another day, another sad round of JP job cuts.
Amusing to see the JP lickspittles getting the retalliation in first.
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